Search smh:

Search in:

Oliver Goss on track to be top amateur

Ben Everill

PINEHURST: Forget low amateur, Oliver Goss wants to compete with the pros at the US Open and perhaps beyond.

The 20-year-old Australian is gunning for the rare double of being low amateur at both the Masters and the US Open in the same year, not done since American Matt Kuchar claimed the honour in 1998.

While his solid one-over 71 left him six shots off German Martin Kaymer's lead and tied 36th, the West Australian is just three back of second place, out-shining all but one of the 11-strong Australian contingent at Pinehurst.

Only Aaron Baddeley's 70 bettered Goss when it came to the Aussies with the reigning US Amateur runner-up upstaging world No.1 Adam Scott and No.7 Jason Day amongst others.

Advertisement

Widely expected to turn professional after the event, Goss was pretty pleased with his performance.

"In a normal round you'd think one-over wouldn't be playing very well but this course is pretty tough and the green complexes are pretty difficult so I am pretty happy with one-over," he said.

"And I still left a couple out there so there is still room for improvement.

"Just like he did at the Masters it looks like Goss will battle Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick for amateur honours. Fitzpatrick, who beat Goss in the US Amateur final, also shot 71 with their nearest rival at 74.

A player must make the cut, which is top 60 and ties, to be eligible for the low amateur award.

But while Goss would love to take the amateur title, his sights are higher.

"Looking at low amateur and being the first since Matt Kuchar to do both the Masters and the US Open would be great and means a lot but I am kind of looking past that and trying to compete against all of these guys," he said.

"It was good for the confidence to see how I was, for the most part, just a few shots back today.

"I am not putting specifics scores in my head, I just want to play the best I can and compete against the best in the world."